| Victor Ortiz | |
|---|---|
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| Boxer | |
| Born | Jan. 31, 1987 (age 26) Garden City, Kansas, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
“Vicious” Victor Ortiz is a famous American boxer of Mexican descent. He is a former WBC Welterweight Champion and he has also held titles in the light welterweight division of the USBA and NABO. In 2008, he was named the ESPN Prospect of the Year. He has also been rated as one of the top three welterweight boxers in the world today. He is best known for his crowd-pleasing aggressive style, boyish charm and two-fisted power.
Early Life
Ortiz was born on January 31, 1987, in Garden City, Kansas. He faced many challenges while growing up. For one thing, he was only seven years old when his mother abandoned the family, leaving the children in the hands of their alcoholic father. Then, five years later, his dad left them as well.
As days went, life became tougher. Victor grew up in a trailer without electricity. He worked in cornfields to make enough money to eat before foster care came to help. At the age of 16, Victor was adopted by his older sister, Carmen. He moved to Denver to live with her. Later in life, Victor said that all these hardships shaped him for later success.
In school, Victor Ortiz was shy and overweight. He entered the boxing gym so that he could stop being bullied at school. After a while, his talent was recognized by the gym’s manager who took him under his wing and taught him how to be a boxer.
Amateur Career
Talent and strong mentorship helped shape Victor into becoming a great boxer. In his early teens, while still training at the Salvation Army center, Victor caught the attention of Ron Lyle, a former heavyweight boxing contender. With Lyle’s direction, Victor won a Junior Olympics title at only 16 years of age.
In less than a year, Victor Ortiz was in Oxnard, California. Here, he closely worked with Robert Garcia, a former boxer. Robert asked Victor to train at his renowned gym. Within time, Garcia eventually became the young boxer’s legal guardian.
Ortiz Goes Professional
In 2004, at the age of 17, Victor turned professional. When he turned 18, he gained full custody of his younger brother. Victor boxed at the Garden City Boxing Club where he was trained by five different trainers.
Victor Ortiz won his first seven fights as a professional boxer. However, on June 3, 2005, he was controversially disqualified in the first round of a fight against Corey Alarcon in Oxnard. After this fight, he continued to win and build a record of 18-1-1 by August of 2007.
Also in 2007, he faced Emmanuel Clottey from Ghana. He defeated Clottey via a technical knockout in the tenth and final round. Three months later, he defeated Carlos Maussa, the former junior welterweight title holder.
On September 13, 2008, Ortiz fought against Roberto David of Argentina. He knocked David down in the second, fourth, and fifth rounds and won by technical knockout. At the end of the year, he was named by ESPN as the Boxing Prospect of the Year.
Ortiz vs. Maidana
On June 27, 2009, Victor faced Marcos Maidana of Argentina in Los Angeles. They were competing for the Interim WBA Lightweight title. Victor entered the ring with an 8-fight knockout streak. Marcos was known to be a dangerous puncher and had won 25 of his 26 previous bouts via knockout.
Both boxers were knocked down in the first round. Victor suffered a cut in the fifth round and was knocked down in the sixth round. The fight ended when the ringside physician refused to let Victor Ortiz continue the match and Maidana was awarded the victory as a result. He soon retired from boxing following a match with Josesito Lopez.
Making a Comeback
After recovering from a broken wrist and switching trainers, Ortiz announced his return to the ring. On February 25, 2010, Victor bounced back after beating Hector Alatorre. He won by a technical knockout in the ninth and final round.
On September 18, 2010, Victor faced Vivian Harris, the former WBA Lightweight Welterweight champion. Ortiz landed 25 of 54 power punches that he attempted and knocked down Harris three times in the second round, winning a victory over him as a result of a technical knockout.
Welterweight Championship
Victor Ortiz faced Andre Berto for the WBC Welterweight title on April 16, 2011, in Mashantucket, Connecticut. He won the fight by a unanimous decision. In June of 2011, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. made an announcement via Twitter stating that he and Ortiz were to fight on September 17, 2011. In this fight, Ortiz found success. He landed a few shots before pushing Mayweather into the corner. However, Ortiz lost the fight. The following year, he lost again to Josesito Lopez.